RX-78-5 Gundam 5th

Model number: RX-78-5
Code name: Gundam 5th
Unit type: prototype space combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 42.9 metric tons; max gross 80.5 metric tons
Armor materials: Luna Titanium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,480 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 70,500 kg total
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6,190 meters
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks on backpack, hand-carried in use; 2 x hand beam gun, mounted on forearms; shield, mounted on left forearm
Optional hand armaments: hyper bazooka; hyper beam rifle; giant Gatling

As the focus of the One Year War shifted into space, the Earth Federation Forces began designing a new Gundam for high mobility space combat, and the end result was the RX-78-5 Gundam 5th. The Gundam 5th was intended to serve as an anti-ship combat unit capable of high speed attacks. The Core Block System from the RX-78-2 Gundam was removed, and the suit was equipped with a new backpack that featured additional thrusters. With the new thrusters and propellant tanks, the Gundam 5th’s mobility was improved by about 40 percent. The removal of the Core Block System allowed for the installation of cooling systems, which translated to a higher generator output and the ability to use higher power beam weapons. The Gundam 5th featured standard armaments like a pair of vulcan guns and beam sabers, plus a pair of forearm-mounted hand beam guns. It could also carry a beam rifle and hyper beam rifle, but its most powerful armament was a giant Gatling gun. In late UC 0079, the Gundam 5th was assigned to Ford Romfellow, a pilot aboard the assault carrier Thoroughbred. The RX-78-4 Gundam 4th, piloted by Luce Kassel, was also stationed aboard the same ship. Near the end of the war, the Gundam 5th was upgraded into the RX-78-5[Bst] Gundam 5th Bst, featuring additional thrusters and external propellant tanks.

Pilot: Ford Romfellow
First appearance: M-MSV
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (M-MSV version), Hajime Katoki (Space Beyond the Blaze version)

Giant Gatling (Version 2)

Hand beam gun (Version 2)

Hyper beam rifle (Version 1)

Hyper beam rifle (Version 2)

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 2)

Shield (Version 2)